If this is what independence looks like, I think the state of Texas is going to turn purple a bit ahead of projections. Rather than form a group to reach out to conservatives who happen to be (today) minorities, Texas State Sen. Dan Patrick has formed a group called Independent Conservative Republicans of Texas (ICRoT) that should more accurately be called the "Keep us in power because we've been here so long" Republicans of Texas.

Sen. Patrick's latest publicity move has thus far captured 15 of the 18 Republicans in the State Senate and 54 of the 77 (moving target lately) R's in the State House of Representatives. For those counting, that is a majority.

676 Years of Incumbency

Thanks to the Texas Tribune's political directory, it is easy to look up the years of service for these "independent conservative Republicans". Independent my arse:

Whole lotta independence goin' on, don't you think? (note: these figures are accurate as of 4/19/10 - more may sign up in the future)

What is the purpose of ICRoT?

Basically, in a nutshell, to protect and maintain the influence of so-called social conservatives in Texas Republican circles. Many incumbents feel pressured by the whole Tea Party movement because the focus has shifted from social issues to fiscal and freedom issues. Here is how a source described it to me "on-background" via email:

ICRoT serves two purposes. One is to protect the members from the Tea Party groups - i.e., if someone is signed up, the "sheeple" of the TP movement will go look for someone else to harass. Two, by specifically using the term "Judeo-Christian", it calms the nerves of the Religious Right that has been instrumental in electing Republicans but who fear that the fiscal issues will push their agenda to the side.

I think that the source was very accurate in that assessment. Most people associate social conservatives exclusively with the issue of abortion but it goes well beyond that. Checkpoints for papers and DUI, food ingredients, non-smoking laws - there is a much broader focus than abortion.

Purity test is coming - but who will pass the test?

Peggy Fikac of the Houston Chronicle wrote about ICRoT today and included this from Sen. Patrick:

Patrick said anyone who adheres to the group's principles is invited to join, but members whose voting records violate the principles will be dropped the next legislative session. That could be quite a show.

Yes, quite a show indeed. Let's take, for instance, the "business tax". You know what I'm talking about, HB3 from the 2005 legislative session, one of the, if not the, issue that propelled Sen. Patrick to an overwhelming win in the primary that year. Of the 15 Senators that signed up to be "independent conservative Republicans", 9 of the, you guessed it, voted FOR that convoluted NEW TAX:

Remember, HB-3 passed 16-14. If only they had been independent conservatives at that time, no? So...how many of these guys will Sen. Patrick kick out after the next session? Probably none because he will have moved on to something else by then but it could be interesting if they try to purge the heretics.

Harris County Republican Chair joins immediately after re-election

Within 12 hours of the final vote tally on run-off day last week, HCRP Chair Jared Woodfill, already an 8 year incumbent, had his name on the ICRoT website. How about that? A Chairman of a group declares that he is independent from that group.

Odd.

What will Cathie Adams do?

About that "turning purple" comment

I take you back to Ms. Fikac's column:

“I just see it as a Dan Patrick platform,” said state Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio. “We actually don't need another subgroup of Republicans.”

Wentworth said he declined “because of one word, and that was ‘life.' I said if you'll change that one word to ‘choice,' so that it reflects me as a Goldwater Republican who still believes that that very personal decision ought to be made by a woman and her family, her physician, her clergyman, but not her state lawmaker, I can join.”

No dice.

Latest Rasmussen poll: Perry - 48%, White - 44%.

Throwing people like Sen. Jeff Wentworth under the bus might be okay short-term but at some point, the party is going to have to accept those who agree with it 80% of the time. Seems like I've heard that elsewhere.